Here you can find the earliest signs of kidney damage and what you can do to improve their function.
Lower back pain
This is considered as one of the most common symptoms of kidney disease.
It can appear on one side only and this is usually the case when a person sleeps on only one side and it’s the side of the sick kidney. Gravity has its share in this as well. But, almost always, in a matter of days, the pain becomes bilateral, i.e. shifts to the other side as well.
The pain can occur in the morning after waking up, during the night and it can be on one or both sides of your lower back. Also, you can experience difficulty in urination.
This is the earliest sign of kidney damage and if diagnosed on time can be successfully treated.
Rashes, dryness and itching
This occurs as a result of waste build-up in the blood due to improper kidney function. This is a serious condition which cannot be treated topically.
Changes in urinary function
Kidneys are also responsible for the secretion of urine, which is why your urinary patterns may change when they are failing. This change may include:
• Your urine may contain blood
• You may feel pressure or have difficulty urinating
• Urine may be foamy or bubbly
• You may start urinating during the night
• You may urinate more frequently, or in greater amounts than usual, with pale urine
• You may urinate less often, or in smaller amounts than usual, with dark colored urine
Be cautious that the initial changes in urinary function are just moderate signs of kidney problems, whereas urine color change is a sign of a more severe condition.
SWELLING IN VARIOUS BODY PARTS
As mentioned before, kidneys are accountable for toxin and excess fluid removal from your body, so their malfunction results in extra fluid buildup, which, in turn, causes swelling in the face, hands, legs, ankles, and feet.
At this point, kidney damage has become much more severe and should be addressed immediately.
FATIGUE AND WEAKNESS
The hormone erythropoietin your kidneys produce helps in the creation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to cells. Kidney malfunction reduces the levels of this hormone, which, in turn, decreases your red blood cell count leading to anemia.
This insufficient oxygen supply to cells leads to fatigue and general weakness, and should be addressed quickly.
CAUSES OF KIDNEY DAMAGE
The heavy metal cadmium, found in the environment through the burning of oil and coal as well as the incineration of municipal waste, is one of the major causes of kidney disease. Phosphate fertilizers which pollute our food supply are another source of cadmium.
In addition, smokers directly breathe cadmium into their lungs, and have more than double the amount of cadmium than non-smokers.
HOW TO IMPROVE KIDNEY FUNCTION
Kidney function can efficiently be enhanced though diet and lifestyle.
The first thing you can do is ensure you don’t smoke as well as avoid surroundings and products with high cadmium content. Regular exercise, staying hydrated, and consumption of unsweetened cranberry juice on a daily basis can also significantly improve your kidney health.
Last, but not least, herbal support in the form of corn silk, juniper berries, uva ursi leaves, horsetail herb, burdock root, goldenrod flowers, and chanca piedra is well worth trying.
